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In May of 1806 an election was held to select the first officials of the newly formed borough of Wilkes-Barre. The election was not contested, as all of the good citizens turned out to vote...

Jesse Fell Made Burgess
The vote cast resulted in the election of Jesse Fell as the first Burgess of Wilkes-Barre. The men elected to the Town Council were: Mathias Hollenback, Roswell Welles, Lord Butler, Arnold Colt, Nathan Palmer, Charles Miner and Samuel Bowman. George Griffin was chosen High Constable and Ebenezer Bowman and John P. Arndt Judges of Election. Peleg Tracy was appointed Town Clerk and sworn in by Burgess Fell.

Strict Rules of Conduct
At the first meeting of a Wilkes-Barre Town Council, which took place on May 10, 1806, several appointments occurred. Nathan Palmer, Roswell Wells and Charles Miner were assigned to form the rules and regulations for the council and Hugh Connor and Peter Yarrington were made street commissioners. The two following rules stand out as interesting among those formed:

"When the president shall take his seat and call to order, each member shall take off his hat and take his seat".

The record points to the fact that there was an argument at this point and then that part of the rule calling for the removal of the hat is crossed off..

The 2nd rule reads: "If any member shall absent himself, after council met, an hour without leave, he shall forfeit and pay fifty cents therefor, and every member who shall attend any adjourned, special or state meeting and shall not be in his place within fifteen minutes after the time of such meeting set, he shall forfeit the sum of twenty-five cents, unless excused by two-thirds of the members present". ..

It was on May 14, 1806, that a step was taken to have a seal designed for the borough. The resolution was offered by Mr. Miner and "resolved that the Clerk of the Council be, and hereby is, authorized to procure a seal for the corporation of this borough, the figure on which is to be a bee hive with this motto on the verge of the circle" 'Pattern after us', and upon the lower verge of the circle, 'Borough of Wilkes-Barre'".

At the same meeting Benjamin Perry and Matthew Covel were nominated as candidates for appointment as treasurer. Perry was later elected. The regular hours for attending the ferry was also set as "from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset".

At the next meeting Mr. Miner reported that the large number of hogs and geese at large were offering serious inconvenience to the traffic of the day and causing other disturbances, and presented a bill to prevent further occurrence of the disorder.

Joseph Slocum and John P. Arndt were appoint the first assessors.


First Tax Levy Only 2.5 Mills
Road appropriation
Bucket Fire Protection
The first tax mill of the Borough of Wilkes-Barre passed the borough council on Saturday, October 4, 1806. It called for a taxation of one-quarter of a cent (2.5 mills) on each dollar of the assessed valuation.

The question of the improvement of the borough's roads also came up at this same meeting and it was decided to appropriate one hundred dollars for this work. A special effort with extra cost, was made to improve the commons on the bank of the Susquehanna...

The matter of fire protection was the next to confront the borough fathers and Charles Miner and Nathan Palmer were appointed to obtain information on the cost of equipment and the best method of securing the borough from the dangers of fire. The result of this was a bill, sponsored by Ebenezer Bowman, requiring all householders to furnish themselves with fire buckets.

The meeting of June 13, 1807, was willed with the election of a president of council and other appointments. Lord Butler was appointed president, Peleg Tracy, clerk of council; Hugh Commor and Peter Yarrington, street commissioners. Later Matthew Covell was elected treasurer and Benjamin Perry assessor with Isaac Gown and Joseph Sinton as his assistants. It seems that the ferry, although most necessary, was not much to be desired. In 1808, the committee that was appointed to lease the ferry reported that on the day at the place where the sale was advertised to take place, no one appeared. The date of this sale was adjourned.

The council records contain little of interest through this particular section and the next thing encountered is the formation of a new council: Jesse Fell, Thomas Dyer, Charles Miner, Isaac Green and Benjamin Perry were sworn into office. Fell was unanimously elected president, Peleg Tracy, clerk; Mathew Covell, treasurer; Joseph Slocum, assessor; Silas Johnson and Isaac Bowman, assistants and Stephen Tuttle and Enoch Ogden, street commissioners.

Bucket Brigade
It is noted that at this time considerable trouble was experienced in getting all of the householders to supply themselves with the fire buckets required by the council. To remedy the situation, the high constable was put on the job. He accomplished a great deal of good, but his task was tremendous.


Council Searches Union Street Hill for Coal in 1809
Bathing Restrictions

The meeting of Wilkes-Barre Borough Council on August 15, 1809, was held right in the midst of the startling discovery of the stone that would burn and was called "stone coal". At that time many people were searching and discovering this wonderful substance in land and were preparing to reap the fortunes...

It was believed that the hill on the north side of Union street contained this "Stone Coal". It was the property of the borough and if rumors were right, then could the borough reap its harvest. To explore and examine this hill for coal, a committee consisting of Isaac Green, Charles Miner and Joseph Sinton was appointed. The last bit of instruction given these searchers for the hidden wealth was that they were not to expend more than ten dollars.

The hill was searched, no coal found and the ten dollars wasted. It was a hard blow.

Another piece of business transacted at this same meeting was the passage of a bill to prevent sheep from running at large in the borough. as short time before a similar bill had put an end to the wanderings of the hogs and geese.

A new council was sworn in on June 2, 1810. It was made up of Joseph Sinton, Charles Miner, Thomas Dyer, John P. Arndt, Enoch Ogden, Isaac Ogden and George Chahoon. Joseph Slocum and William Ross were appointed street commissioners and Sidney Tracy clerk of council.

The Second Burgess
The second big election of the borough of Wilkes-Barre was held in 1811. As a result of this, Lord Butler was made burgess. William A. George was the new high constable. The new town council contained Jesse Fell, Ebenezer Bowman, Joseph Sinton, Jacob Cist, Stephen Tuttle and George Chahoon. William Russell and Enoch Ogden were judges of election.

At the first meeting of this body Jesse Fell was chosen president of the council and George Denison appointed clerk. Charles Miner and Zebulon Butler were appointed assessors and Peter Yarrington and Isaac Bowman street commissioners. In a short time these last two were excused and Benjamin Perry and Hugh Conner took their places.

At this time many complaints were pouring into the council of the behavior of swimmers. The weather being hot and the water of the Susquehanna being cool, many men were forgoing the trouble of going in search of a bathing suit: merely removing their clothing in the most convenient spot and diving "on the altogether". This was done in full view of the passing populace. An ordinance was passed which prevented "the indecent habit of persons stripping themselves and swimming or bathing in the river, within the borough limits, between the hours of 5 a. m. and 8 p. m.."


Taxes Were Low
Curfew in Force
Business of Wilkes-Barre Borough Council Reveal Some Interesting Facts

The curfew meant something to Wilkes-Barre people back in 1812. It was announced by the clamorous ring of the Meeting House bell located on the South Main street corner of Public Square, which was enough to pierce the stillness to the most distant part of the city itself. The warning it sounded was heeded at once.

And the ringer of the curfew was not neglected. For at the meeting of the council of the borough of Wilkes-Barre on March 12, 1812, a motion was adopted that cared for M. Miller, the "ringer". The motion provided, in a manner which may have then seemed most generous, that for ring the curfew bell, Mr. Miller be paid five dollars at the end of every quarter year out of the funds of the borough treasury, as compensation.

The results of the next borough election were announced on May 5 of the same year. Lord Butler was elected burgess, the council included Benjamin Drake, Isaac Bowman, Joseph Sinton, John P. Arndt, Jesse Fell, John Robinson and George Chahoon. William A. George was made high constable. The judges of election were Peleg Tracy and John P. Arndt. The council appointed Jesse Fell president of council and George Denison as clerk.

The only work of importance in the regime of these officers took place at the meeting March 16, 1813. At this time it was voted that a sum of $700 be expended for the purchase of a fire engine and the Arndt and Sinton be appointed to procure the engine.

At the election of May 13, 1813, Lord Butler was again elected burgess, Benjamin Drake and Jacob Houseman, the judges of election, were not overworked. The grand total of votes cast for election of burgess was nineteen. Of this great number Butler received the majority. John Miller was elected high constable. The new council included Jesse Fell, Joseph Sinton, Benjamin Drake, John Robinson, John P. Arndt and Joseph Slocum. Very little change from the previous year. The council appointments were the same.

Stephen Tuttle and Samuel Bowman were made street commissioners, Charles Miner and Jonathan Hancock assessors, and Ebenezer Bowman, treasurer. Hancock declined and Benjamin Perry was appointed.

Then came some real business, for the first raise of taxes in Wilkes-Barre was about to be made. The original tax levy was one-quarter mill on the dollar of valuation. This had been made in 1806. Now seven years later, the borough's income was found to be too small to meet its needs so by vote of the council it was to be doubled and set at one-half cent on the dollar.



City All Lit Up Marking the End of War of 1812

Old Wilkes-Barre Had to Adopt Law To Stop Horses Roaming The Streets

Market House Opened
At the Wilkes-Barre Borough election of May 3, 1814, Jesse Fell was elected burgess and the following to the town council: Stephen Tuttle, John P. Arndt, G. M. Hollenback , Eliphalet Buckeley, David Scott, Joseph Sinton and Benjamin Drake. Luther Yarrington was made high constable. Jonathan Hancock and Jacob Hausman were elected judges of election. At the first meeting of the body, Col. Eliphalet Bulkeley was made president of council, George Denison, clerk; Ebenezer Bowman, treasurer and Isaac Bowman and Joseph Slocum street commissioners.

The first constructive piece of legislation passed by this council came with the decision to establish a market on Public Square. It was located on Center street, which ran through the Square on a line between North and South Main streets. The market, in which the farmers gathered to sell the produce brought in by them for the villagers, was opened twice a week, on Tuesday and Saturday mornings between the hours of 6 and 10. For the building of the market house the council paid $316.45.

On September 20, 1814, a bill passed the council which dealt out the same fate to horses as had been met by pigs, cows and geese, a year or two previous. This bill, brought up after several accidents, near-accidents and frights, absolutely prohibited horses from being allowed to roam at will through the borough. There was a quick building of fences about pastures to the tune of many protests to the council after this bill became a borough ordinance.

At the meeting of February 21, 1815, the following bill passed the council: "It is hereby moved and seconded that the burgess be and hereby is requested to give notice that an illumination of the borough is to be permitted on Wednesday evening, the 22nd instant, from seven til 10 o'clock in commemoration of the conclusion of peace between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of their late victory obtained by General Jackson over the British forces at New Orleans."

Here was the end of strife between the States and England which desired to continue as the mother country. The end came with the victory which Jackson's troops shot out from behind bales of cotton at the mouth of the Mississippi. The borough of Wilkes-Barre took complete advantage of the illumination permit and the whole valley was dotted by hundreds of monster bonfires. It is also mentioned that the early time limit set at ten o'clock, was completely overlooked in the wild and joyous celebration. The grog shops also did their bit toward making the illumination most general.


Building of First Bridge Over River Authorized 1817
Between the years of 1815 and 1817 little of general interest is recorded in the minutes of the Council of the Borough of Wilkes-Barre, aside from the elections. In 1815 Jesse Fell was once more made burgess. The town council was made up of Stephen Tuttle, Eliphalet Bulkeley, Isaac Bowman, George M. Hollenback, David Scott, Benjamin Drake and Joseph Sinton. The new high constable was William A. George and the judges of election Abiel Abbott and Benjamin Drake.

At the first meeting Benjamin Perry was made clerk, S. Bowman and Jonathan Brown, street commissioners, and Mr. George clerk of the new market. On April 12, 1815, William A. George, on account of "inability of the body", was forced to resign and a special election was held at which Lyman Sholes was elected high constable. At the election Sholes received fifteen votes...

Then came the death of President of Council Col. Eliphalet Bulkelkey and Joseph Sinton was appointed in his place.

In 1816 Samuel Maffett and George Chahoon were made borough assessors and Joseph Slocum was elected high constable. However Mr. Slocum refused to accept the office and it was necessary to hold another special election to choose Joseph Dennis in his place.

The election of May 6, 1817, found Jesse Fell again made burgess. The council consisted of Garrick Mallery, Barnet Ulp, Samuel Maffett, Thomas Burnside, Andrew Beaumont, William Brown, and Jacob. J. Dennis. Joseph Dennis was retained as constable and Barnet Ulp and Joel Rogers were elected judges. Benjamin Perry was made town clerk and B. D. Barnes, clerk of the market. Thomas B. Overton and James Reeder were appointed street commissioners and Ebenezer Bowman, treasurer.

Fine Absentees
At the meeting of May 30, 1817, it was decided to put an end to the frequent absence of the members by boosting the fine for not attending council sessions. The result was the raising of the fine for absence to $1.00 and that for tardiness was made 25 cents.

The ferry used for crossing the river had been for years a constant source of annoyance. It was difficult to find reliable persons to put in charge and the service had been most unsatisfactory. It was therefore decided that a bridge should be built at market street over the Susquehanna.

It was at the meeting of august 2, 1817, that everything was finally agreed to and the privilege of erecting the bridge granted to the Bridge Company. The company was to erect it "over the Susquehanna opposite the borough of Wilkes-Barre and the privilege included removing a part of the high bank on the East side above and below the abutment for the purpose of fitting the bridge". Then it seemed to the citizens the trouble was at end. Soon there appeared the old covered, which remained for several years.

This was not the only bridge mentioned by the council records. At the meeting of January 22, 1818, an order was drawn in favor of Elihu Ayers for ten dollars. This was to cover the cost of a bridge erected by him at the end of Union street.



The original name of the first street to the west of Public Square, between the Square and the river, was New street. It was rename Franklin street, in honor of Col. John Franklin. This new name was given at the council meeting on April 18, 1818.

At the same meeting notification was given of the arrival of the long awaited fire engine. It had been installed in a special house and now the borough felt more secure than ever before. The engine had been purchased in Philadelphia and the work of hauling it to Wilkes-Barre had been in the charge of Andrew Beaumont. For his services the council voted payment of his bell for $15.

At the election of May 15, 1818, Jesse Fell was made burgess. He received 21 votes. Joseph Dennis was made high constable and received 14 votes. The highest count in the election was that of George M. Hollenback who, in being elected to the council, received 31 votes. The other members of the new council and the total number of votes cast for them was: Joseph Slocum, 22; Jacob J. Dennis, 20; George Denison, Edwin Tracy, Lyman Shoales and Joshua Miner all received 14. Eliphalet A. Bulkeley was inspector and Daniel Collins and Jacob. J. Dennis judges of election.

At the first meeting of the council Joseph Slocum was made president; Benjamin Perry, clerk; Col. Isaac Bowman, clerk of the market, and Joseph Sinton, treasurer. Sinton resigned in June and James Reeder was appointed in that place.

At the next election, which took place on May 4, 1819, Matthias Hollenback was made the new burgess and received 32 votes. The high men of this election were Benjamin Drake and David Scott who were made councilmen with 43 votes. The other councilmen elected were Steuben Butler, 33; Ebenezer Bowman, 31; Daniel Collins, 32; Edward Covell, 32; and Joseph Slocum, 33. Luther Yarrington drew 32 votes for the constables office. Joseph McCoy was inspector of election and James Reeder and Thomas B. Overton, judges.



Motion to Beautify Public Square

At the meeting of Wilkes-Barre Town Council which was held on June 12, 1819, the first motions to beautify Public Square were presented. The motion read: "Whereas the enclosing of the Public Square and the planting of shubbery thereon would serve to protect the public buildings, promote the health of the citizens and improve the appearance of the Borough, and thereby evince the existence of some taste and public spirit among the inhabitants of the Borough, and whereas a number of the citizens have been anxious that this measure should be adopted...

"1 - Buildings on the Square shall be enclosed in a circular fence and the enclosure be leveled, handsomely laid out and ornamented with trees and shrubbery in such manner as the committee shall deem fit."

"2 - If any person shall injure or destroy any part of these improvements he shall pay a penalty of two dollars for each offence along with the cost of the damages which shall be assessed by three disinterested persons and the amount collected in the same process as penalties are usually collected by the Borough."

Such a measure would tend to give Wilkes-Barre a central gathering spot and municipal center of beauty. However, the council was not yet ready to take up such progressive measures and this first attempt to beautify Wilkes-Barre failed. The measure was put off from one meeting to the next, debated upon and the cause of some great arguments. On June 19, in order to make way for other business, it became necessary to postpone action on it indefinitely.

However the council did keep moving ahead. It was decided that the land above Union street, which was used as a burying ground, would add many conveniences to the borough if it could be obtained. At that time it was part of the Township. Accordingly a committee consisting of Ebenezer Bowman and Joseph Slocum was appointed to confer with the Township and secure information as to the transferring of the title to the Borough. This was accomplished. Then the council desired a fence built around it...
John Miller, he who had charge of the ringing of the curfew bell, was interviewed concerning whether or not he would build the fence. He was at that time, living on a part of the land desired. The agreement reached was that he should build the fence. In return he was to be given a lease on the property occupied by him which would remain valid throughout his natural life. But this seemed too much for the mere building of a fence. So it added that he should also keep the fence in good order, care for the meeting house and academy, sweep and clean them and ring the bell for religious services. It was voted that he be advanced part of the salary given to him as a curfew ringer, in order that he might purchase the material with which to build the fence.

Shortly before this took place, he petitioned council for an increase in salary as curfew ringer. It was refused. He was already paid twenty-five dollars per year and asked for a five dollar raise.

Another example of the rate of payment to officials at that time is seen in the voting of the payment of Peleg Tracy as clerk of council. He received twenty dollars per year, paid twice annually.

During the years of 1819 and 1820. the legislation almost continually before the Council had to do with restraining the wandering habits of horses, dogs, geese and sheep. Drastic ordinances were passed, ignored, enforced and the cause of battles, repealed and then passed once more...

It had been mentioned earlier in the borough's history, but the first bit of serious action came on June 12, 1819. The mud in the roads during spring had proved most admirable for the afternoon naps of the hogs and they made good use of it. Horses on the other hand, found it so much to their disliking and stuck to the sparse sidewalks. sheep and geese wandered promiscuously all over. It had to be stopped.

On the date mentioned above an ordinance was passed which absolutely forbade any person to allow horses, hogs, sheep or geese to roam in the borough. To enforce this law it was provided that the constable could take in and hold until the fine was paid, any animal at large. To make the law still more powerful it was provided that any person could seize and hold animals found loose. Anyone making an attempt to rescue animals so held was to be fined $2.00.

The dogs were next cared for. The council records read:

"Several cases of a very fatal disease occasioned by the bite of a mad dog have been reported in the City of Philadelphia and the malady is fast spreading into the country, causing great alarm among the people. Common prudence and a regard for the safety of the community require that measures be adopted to prevent progress of the evil in Wilkes-Barre."

The ordinance passed after this made it unlawful for any dog to run at large and any found was to be seized, killed and buried by the constable or any person. As a reward for these services, the person causing the sudden and complete departure of the dog for other worlds was to receive fifty cents. This was to be paid by the owner of the dog, a very good method of rubbing salt in a wound, or by the borough if there was no owner. Any person resisting the seizure of his dog was liable to a fine of five dollars. Half of this was to go to the borough treasury and half to that person upon whom the attempt to prevent abduction of the pup was made.

The law was most complete and if followed to the letter would have surely resulted in the sudden extinction of dogs. The idea of making every citizen a deputy for enforcement was a stroke of genius but it failed to work out. It was quickly discovered the great majority of citizens refuses absolutely to bring the wrath of their neighbors down on them by stealing such horses, hogs, sheep, geese and dogs as might stray and putting an end to the life of the last mentioned. Those few who did take advantage of the chance were those who had some pet grudge to take out and used this method of revenge.

Then, too, the constable was no inviolate. It was easy to note that he was passing up many chances to take in animals using the roads of the borough as free parking and grazing grounds. It was also noted that the few arrests he had made did not involve the property of his friends. As a result he was disciplined for allowing violations of the law. Any member of council could see that animals were still running at large. One of the councilmen had been chased of the sidewalk by a horse. The constable was told to enforce the law without fear, favor or affection.

A new council soon came into office and its first act was to haul up the constable and read him the riot act. He was instructed to post notices to the effect that the law would be enforced, give the people four days to comply and then go to work.

But to no avail. It was seem to b impossible, under living conditions as they were, to enforce the legislation. Much bitterness had been generated by the ordinance and the many battles that were staged did much to disrupt the peace of the otherwise serene little borough along the winding Susquehanna. Then council, seeing the wisdom of other ways, on May 31, 1820, appointed a committee to formulate a bill to repeal the ordinance. Finally that part which allowed anyone to seize and hold straying animals and prevent any attempt at rescue, was wiped off the books July 15, 1820. This event came to pass after many meetings which contained eloquence, arguments, bad feelings and finally agreement.

(from Sunday Independent - 1924)